Cold ice, hot oven

We woke up to a frozen world.  All was covered with a coating of ice and it was clear we weren't going out this morning!

And while the ice remained, the birds remained.  Pine siskins showed up in large numbers and flapped and fought and jockeyed for position for most of the day.

Today Maisy suddenly became aware of the window feeders.

I heard her whining and when I peeked in the living room she had her feet up on the windowsill and was wagging her tail and whining to get closer to the birds, just like she acts around Charlie.

Crazy dog.

The cold and ice had some birds acting out of character.  I'd never seen a cardinal interested in the suet cake before.

The territorial mockingbirds were on patrol most of the time.

But occasionally they even let the bluebirds near the suet.

The usually more timid showed up too.

 Even a couple of solitary red-winged blackbirds.  There was no sign of the flock today though.

 Mr. Towhee was very bold.  I don't know where Mrs. Towhee was hiding today.

Even the thrasher had a bolder attitude.

And Mrs. Red-bellied Woodpecker made an appearance.  I guess the cold and ice made her brave too.  Nice.  :-)

Now so you don't think all I do is sit at the front window.....   I was actually in the kitchen most of the time today.  :-)  First we had g-f blueberry scones for breakfast.

Next I made a batch of slightly over-toasted granola.  Yummy though!

Then two loaves of g-f bread for The Tramp, and a batch of g-f brownies for Julianne's grand opening party this evening.

Once the ice melted enough...by noon for most people...her store filled up and she had a successful opening day.   I took Mom over this afternoon for a look at the new store and she treated me to a new pair of Machingers quilting gloves.  My current pair are pretty grungy.  Even when you pre-wash all your fabrics they still get colored by the fabric dyes and no amount of washing makes them nice again.  Thanks Mom!!  :-)

Brrrrrr.....

Today started at 23F and it's now 26F.  Brrrrrrrr.  It also precipitated all afternoon so now everything outside is coated with ice.

Tomorrow Cary Quilting Company is having it's grand opening and I managed to get the flimsy of Lilly Pilly finished for Julianne to hang in the shop.  All those leaves!  I'm so glad I delivered it yesterday as today was only good for penguins and polar bears.

I even took a photo of the settings on my machine so I wouldn't set it wrong each time I took a break!   Now I have to clear the decks in here so I can take it back and quilt it.

The pond had a skim of ice on it this morning.

Today was a Project Feederwatch day and there was plenty to watch, because of the weather I suppose.  I even had to go out and refill the feeders again this afternoon.  Birds flit back and forth constantly all day long.

I was pleased to see this handsome red-winged blackbird again.

No one was shy today.  This Carolina wren didn't seem to care about the dogs and I sitting at the window.

 I even caught it with it's mouth full!

The brown thrasher was around all day today....except when the mockingbirds got too aggressive.  They were around all day too.  Sigh.

I filled the bird bath with warm water but it didn't stay liquid for long.

I happened to be watching at the moment wave after wave of red-winged blackbirds landed by the pond.  I estimated there to be at least 100 in the flock.  Most of them were down the bank by the water so I couldn't get a picture of the whole lot together.

 Then I was really amazed when they moved up into our yard.

Most hung out in the tree over the feeder calling to each other.

It was very Hitchcockian for ten minutes or so.  :-)

Otherwise it was the usual suspects at the feeders, just more of them than usual.  The red-bellied woodpecker, among others.

Bluebirds.

Titmice.

House finches, goldfinches, pine siskins, chickadees, juncos, various warblers, nuthatches and sparrows.

I was pleased to see the thrasher defying the mockingbirds over and over again.

Pine siskins skating on the bird bath "drinking" the snow/sleet.

The sleet covered the pond by lunchtime.

The towhees showed up too.  They haven't been around much this year.

Goldfinch and pine siskin.

By this time in the afternoon, after I refilled the feeders I just sat on the floor by the window with Ivy, nose to nose with the braver birds.

By the time The Tramp arrived home it was getting really nasty out there.

A great reason to stay warm in The Sandbox and finish quilting The Viking's first quilt.  Finally!  :-)